The Department of Environmental Studies examines the connections between humans and nature from an interdisciplinary perspective that includes the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. We strive to develop and promote sustainable behaviors that improve life at the local, regional, national, and global levels. We offer majors in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies, as well as a minors in Environmental Studies and Geographic Information Systems, along with the opportunity to earn Secondary Teaching Certification in science.

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Global Opportunities

Aside from UNE's opportunities to spend a semester abroad in Tangier, Morocco, or Seville, Spain, you find two travel courses—a Fall semester course that visits Dominica, led by Dr. Thomas Klak, and a Spring semester course that visits Kenya, led by Dr. Richard Peterson. To enroll in these courses, you must submit an application to the Global Education Program. You are encouraged to apply for a Global Education scholarship when applying to these courses.

Kenya

ENV 348 ADV ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY DEV. IN EAST AFRICA

Dr. Richard Peterson

This is a Spring semester course offered every other year with a two to three week field lab in Kenya in late May/June. Semester studies focus on environmental, health and community development issues facing the country today, set within East Africa’s political, cultural and historical contexts. The field lab features visits to leading universities, museums and national parks, an overland journey from Nairobi to Kisumu through the Great Rift Valley, home-stays with Kenyan families, hiking in the Kakamega Rainforest, hands-on experience working with local partner organizations and a two-day visit to one of Kenya’s wildlife reserves.

Dominica

This is a Fall semester course that includes spending 13 days in early January in Dominica. You experience first-hand the challenges of—and progress toward—sustainable development in the self-proclaimed “Nature Island.” The class fulfills both UNE’s Advanced Studies and Citizenship requirements by engaging with Dominican partners who are working to achieve sustainable development, and by participating in hands-on development projects. Other experiences in Dominica include working on a fair trade banana farm to learn about Dominica’s economic mainstay crop; visiting a beach where sea turtles lay their eggs; hiking to the world’s only Boiling Lake; and bird-watching for the beautiful Imperial Parrot, Dominica’s national bird and an endangered species. You also instruct students about environmental protection at a local primary school.